Camarillo family's courage recognized by NBA

The National Basketball Association and Southwest Airlines recognized the Figueroa family of Camarillo on Wednesday for their display of strength and courage during their stay at the Ronald McDonald House.

As part of the NBA's Shoot for Hope charity, the Camarillo family were flown to Phoenix, Ariz., compliments of Southwest Airlines to watch the Phoenix Suns take on the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.

On Jan. 30, 2003, 12-year-old Andy Figueroa went to the emergency room complaining of chest pains and a high fever, and was quickly transferred to the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, where tests showed malignant tumors on his liver and diaphragm.

During the following nine months of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, Andy's mother, Diana, and his siblings spent countless hours at the Ronald McDonald House to be close to Andy.

"My mom is my hero," said Sarah Figueroa, 28, Andy's older sister. "She quit her job so she could be close to Andy every day." Sarah and her two other siblings, Javier, 24, and Oscar, 17, made frequent visits to Andy's bedside, bringing him books and games.

Andy, now a 15-year-old sophomore at Rio Mesa High School, is nearly in complete remission. "Andy is the bravest little kid I ever met in my entire life," Sarah said. "His attitude the whole time was 'Let's do whatever it takes to beat this.' I think we were all more scared than he was."

Andy goes for checkups every two months to monitor any change in his condition, but he is thrilled to have the chance to participate in Shoot for Hope in Phoenix. "Steve Nash is one of my favorite players," he said.

For the third straight year, the NBA and Southwest Airlines have teamed up through the Shoot for Hope program to give families who have stayed at Ronald McDonald Houses the opportunity to experience NBA games and meet their favorite players. Shoot for Hope is a part of NBA Cares, the league's global community outreach initiative.

This season, the NBA and Southwest Airlines will provide a minimum of six families with a Shoot for Hope experience. Each family will be flown to an NBA city on Southwest Airlines for a game and a chance for the child's family to interact with some of today's top NBA players. They will also receive a variety of gifts, including NBA memorabilia.

"The Shoot for Hope program allows the NBA and Southwest Airlines to honor some of our bravest fans by providing them with a special experience at an NBA game," said Mark Tatum, NBA senior vice president of marketing partnerships. "The Figueroa family is a courageous family deserving of this special journey, and we offer them hope and support during this challenging time."

"Southwest Airlines employees are touched by the amazing accomplishments that take place at Ronald McDonald Houses throughout the nation," said Tena Griffith, manager of sports marketing for Southwest Airlines. "We are delighted to partner with the NBA to treat these deserving families to an enjoyable evening at an NBA game."